Hooked

As you probably know…

I am a sucker for black and white…

Traditional Home

So much for being afraid to mix white with cream.

House Beautiful

I’d be in this bathroom 24/7.

So simple yet so spectacular…

blame it on that floor!

In Paris, Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant at Trianon Palace in Versailles was awesome.

The floor wasn’t the only thing I adored.

We sat on the porch as sheep grazed in the field.

It made a lasting impression…see why?

The white couches at those tables…and YUM! the yellow chairs.

To die for!

A Laudree shoppe.

My favorite place with my favorite floor.

Why do macaroons invoke such happiness?

House Beautiful

I think the tiles are a tad too big for this space

but love it still.

A Jan Showers’ hallway design.

Windsor Smith’s foyer via House Beautiful.

Remember she had that gorgeous dark kitchen?

Have a happy weekend.

Lovin’ It,

Lisa

First Things First

Praise Report:

Lindsay is holding on. She is NOT out of the woods by any means and her husband asks for our con’t prayers.

What blessed news! Thank you!

In the meantime,

I found collages of John Jacobs work at Tassels and Twigs blogspot.

You can see how my dream kitchen works with his design aesthetic.

Heavenly spaces.

But I have to admit…

that while all these rooms are beautiful~

nothing is prettier than a prayer!

Thanks for all of yours. Keep fighting, Lindsay :)

Lovin’ It,

Lisa

Testing One Two

Checking my blog…

I could be in trouble as I cannot post my work.

Dear God,

Forgive me God

As  I have wasted time this morning blogging…

this friend of Abby’s is fighting for her life:

(Credit:will post later)

Please pray for Abby’s dear friend; Lindsay Lewis who is currently in ICU in critical condition fighting for her life in Frisco, TX. She went to the hospital last Tuesday with pneumonia, while she was there she developed Acute respiratory distress syndrome. (ARDS) is a life-threatening lung condition that prevents enough oxygen from getting into the blood. On Saturday her lung collapsed due to the complications of ARDS. She is in a drug induced coma. We need to pray her lungs soften and her oxygen levels increase.

She is a mom to 2 young boys (and expecting their 3rd!) and wife to Gabe. I attached a picture of her and her boys taken a few months earlier.

Today is a critical day for her. Please lift her up in prayers. Thank you friends for praying for her and her family. I'll keep you updated

May God Bless you today!

 

Dear Followers,

(Courtesy: PhotoPix)

If you have time (and have not done so)could you attempt to register as one of my “Followers”?

I know some computers make it hard but I am trying to increase my followers to more than 16.

(laughter)

While I prefer NOT going global, (more laughter)

I want to go to NYC in the Winter for Bloggers Fest (dead serious)

AND in order to do that…

I am quite sure that I will need MORE than 16 followers.

It still humbles me & makes me laugh to think that there are 16 of you that want to read my blog…

Thank you for your time & following me!

Lovin’ It,

Lisa

Dear John,

Your kitchen had me at hello.

My name is written all over it (along with my husbands).

We are smitten.

I have held it in my arms since I first laid eyes on it.

I am there with you, Baby & your point of view.

We are going to tweak it a bit but…

we will try to make you proud.

There is only ffvONE winner…

and your kitchen is it :)

Need I say more?

Lovin’ It,

Lisa (& Her Much Better 1/2)

xoxo

ps. Sorry I said you were from Australia when you live in South Africa, my bad.

(Courtesy: My Nottinghill & Color Outside the Lines)

Me & Mrs Jones

On this rainy Monday, my dear friend, Mrs.. Jones helped me design our future kitchen.

There are a couple kitchens I love but just like in Project Runway…

there can only be “ffvONE” winner. (Said with Heidi’s German accent)

Could it be Kitchen #1?? (Courtesy of House Beautiful)

Designed by Windsor Smith…for herself. Blessed lady.

A true gutsy designer who painted these cabinets a very deep blue.

Not fearing resale values, trends or HERSELF.

 

It is an amazing kitchen!

Love, love that center table dining-island.

C’mon who designs a kitchen like this?? In navy??

A homeowner with confidence and “a point of view” (Notice how Heidi, Tim, Nina, & Michael always tell the designers that they need to have “a point of view”?)

Windsor Smith also designed this fabulous dual- purpose foyer on October’s cover of Veranda.

Can you imagine that this foyer serves as a “dining room” when it is needed.

Pure genius idea Windsor! You are a visionary like Mrs. Jones.

Could it be Kitchen #2?? (Courtesy Cote De Texas blog)

Designed by Sally Wheat for herself. Another blessed lady.

I love the color, simplicity and marble counters!

It is one of the most blogged about kitchens ever.

Many have replicated it because it rocks…will I?

Could it be Kitchen #3?? (Courtesy Cote De Texas blog)

Designed by Houstonian designer: Joni of Cote De Texas blog for herself.

It is like Sally’s kitchen.

Adore the marble thick window ledge and French vibe.

Cote De Texas is one of the best blogs IF you have never visited it before…

you shouldn’t be reading my blog! You need to read hers!!

Could it be Kitchen #4?? (Courtesy My Nottinghill blog)

Designed by Aussie designer John Jacob Zwiegelaar for himself.  Cute and blessed boy.

The contrasting white & black checkerboard floors, the dark cabinetry and dark marble counters take my breath away.

Again, I like the table used as an island and seating.

I could happily live in any of these kitchens…but which one is my DREAM kitchen??

Up until today…I did not have the GUTS to do what I wanted but Mrs. Jones convinced me and helped me realize that…

“I just need to do it and not look back”

AND

That if I’M NOT going to do it…

SHE will!!

Just kidding!

However, that was a huge confirmation because Mrs. Jones should have her own HGTV show!!

Me & Mrs. Mrs. Jones…we’ve got a thing going on…

Stayed Tuned for our BIG decision :)

My Buddies {pl.}

Well… “I’m baack”

I am humbled if you missed me.

Today, I bring you: a very blog worthy post…

This invite had me anxious with anticipation.

And c’mon! you know I wasn’t disappointed…

Champagne greeted us (and is still greeting me. I enjoyed it much more last night)

 

Jane’s designs were so creative and so detailed.

I hope you can see and feel how wonderful it was…

Every couple brought a bottle to swap.

One husband wanted to know if later in the night: the N in “wine” could be changed to an F on the sign.

Get it??…WIFE SWAP.

(very funny)

A beautiful appetizer table…

Breathtaking dining tables….

Seriously…they were this gorgeous….

Look at those place settings and ALL the details….

Mason jar water glasses, labeled wine glasses, burlap, wicker, linen, hydrangeas…

Jane printed Wine Menus on the bottles.

I am so glad I took pictures…

I remember everything now….

The Cakebread, Far Niente, and Darioush.

It’s like being there all over again.

Dinner menus on the cutest menu boards…

Too cute I tell you, just too darn cute…

Don’t you want one?

Actually, I bet Jane can get you one.

(Let me know)

Look at these flower blossoms filled with goat cheese.

Aren’t they amazing?

They were colorful & pretty and tasted so good…

the blossom was a little citrusy with the mellow goat cheese.

Deee-lish!

The cheeses…

The fresh fruit….

The first course…

pan seared sea bass with a granny smith apple salad, celery root puree & browned butter.

second course…

heirloom beet salad (I am a HUGE beet fan) with toasted hazelnuts, Maytag mousse & pistachio vinaigrette.

third course…

risotto cake with wild mushrooms, mustard crusted Kobe beef (so tender, you could swallow w/o chewing) & arugula mayonnaise.

fourth course…

ricotta panna cotta with balsamic figs & orange zest.

It was delicious.

ALL the courses were delicious…

however, I was also enjoying the WINE too much which caused my mind to forget to take more pictures of the food.

oopps!… I forgot I was the evening’s “Official Blogger”

Jane gave these warm and lovely wraps in black and gray to each girl.

And the boys took home a Merlot steak sauce and jar of Italian olives in this darling linen bag…

Well…I took home “my boys” for him.

This morning, he was so happy when he discovered I remembered to bring home EVERYTHING last night.

After all, he reeally liked the wines A LOT too.

Thanks!! Jane and “Birthday Boy” Mike…

Perfecto :)